Mapping of animal genomes has generated huge databases and several new concepts and strategies, which are useful to elucidate origin, evolution and phylogeny. Genetic and physical maps of genomes further provide precise details on chromosomal location, function, expression and regulation of academically and economically important genes. The series "Genome Mapping and Genomics in Animals" provides comprehensive and up-to-date reviews on genomic research on a large variety of selected animal systems, contributed by leading scientists from around the world.

Insects and other arthropods, the largest group of animals in number of species, have global impact on agriculture, industry, human health and environment. They are of particular economic importance for food production as pollinators, for natural products like silk and also as pests and parasites. Arthropods covered in this volume include honeybee, bumblebee, the parasitic Jewel Wasp, silkworm, pea aphid, mosquito, Hessian fly and tick.

For anybody capable of an emotional response to it, any view of a developing organism should give birth to a feeling of amazement and even admiration, whether this development is seen directly, or in the form of a time lapse film, or even if mentally reconstructed from a series of static images. We ask ourselves how such seemingly primitive eggs or pieces of tissue, without any obvious intervention from outside, so regularly transform themselves into precisely constructed adult organisms. If we try to formulate what amazes us most of all about development, the answer will probably be that it is the internal capacity of developing organisms themselves to create new structures. How, then, can we satisfy our amazement in ways that are more or less reasonable, as well as scientifically valuable? This depends, first of all, on what position we choose to regard embryonic development as occupying among other structure creating processes, even including human activities. On the one hand, one might regard the development of organisms as a highly specialized class of processes, unique to themselves and alien to the general laws of nature, or at least not derivable from them and more akin to the deliberate acts of our own human behaviour. In that case our task would become reduced to a search for some specific 'instructions' for each next member of such a class. Whether in an overt or hidden form, some such ideology seems to dominate in present day developmental biology.

The principle objective of this book is to help undergraduate students in the analysis of genetic problems. Many students have a great deal of difficulty doing genetic analysis, and the book will be useful regardless of which genetics text is being used. Most texts provide some kinds of problems and answers: few, if any, however, show the students how to actually solve the problem. Often the student has no idea how the answer was derived. This work emphasizes solutions, not just answers. The strategy is to provide the student with the essential steps and the reasoning involved in conducting the analysis. Throughout the book, an attempt is made to present a balanced account of genetics. Topics, therefore, center about Mendelian, cytogenetic, molecular, quantitative, and population genetics, with a few more specialized areas. Whenever possible the student is provided with the appropriate basic statistics necessary to make some the analyses. The book also builds on itself; that is, analytical methods learned in early parts of the book are subsequently revisited and used for later analyses. A deliberate attempt is made to make complex concepts simple, and sometimes to point out that apparently simple concepts are sometimes less so on further investigation. Any student taking a genetics course will find this book an invaluable aid to achieving a good understanding of genetic principles and practice.

Selective Sweep deals with the theory and practice of detection of recent adaptive evolution at the genomic level from the patterns of DNA polymorphism. Recent advances in genomic sequencing provide the background for analysis of polymorphic sites in large chromosomal regions or even in whole genome, thus providing the tool for effective identification of loci that are under strong pressure of positive selection. For this reason, the studies of selective sweep, which formerly were of interest mostly to evolutionists, have become widely recognized and appreciated by the large biological community involved in identification of the targets of selection during speciation, host/pathogen interactions, and resistance to chemical agents.

Over the past decade the importance of natural resources for sustainable agricultural development has been increasingly discussed at international forums and conferences. Aside from the sustainable management of soil, water, and air, it now seems to be accepted that the sustainable management of genetic resources is one of the four indispensable preconditions for a sustainable agriculture. The discussion on conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA), however, has to reflect the costs of conservation as well. These have not yet been discussed intensively. The study analyzes the conservation costs of plant genetic resources; it also assesses the effectiveness of conservation and the efficiency of the different conservation instruments. It is based on extensive surveys in relevant countries. Following the detailed cost and impact analysis, the results show that the effectiveness of conservation strategies may be increased.

The field of epigenetics has grown exponentially in the past decade, and a steady flow of exciting discoveries in this area has served to move it to the forefront of molecular biology. Although epigenetics may previously have been considered a peripheral science, recent advances have shown considerable progress in unraveling the many mysteries of nontraditional genetic processes. Given the fast pace of epigenetic discoveries and the groundbreaking nature of these developments, a thorough treatment of the methods in the area seems timely and appropriate and is the goal of Epigenetics Protocols. The scope of epigenetics is vast, and an exhaustive analysis of all of the techniques employed by investigators would be unrealistic. However, this (TM) volume of Methods in Molecular Biology covers three main areas that should be of greatest interest to epigenetics investigators: (1) techniques related to analysis of chromatin remodeling, such as histone acetylation and methylation; (2) methods in newly developed and especially promising areas of epigenetics such as telomere position effects, quantitative epigenetics, and ADP ribosylation; and (3) an updated analysis of techniques involving DNA methylation and its role in the modification, as well as the maintenance, of chromatin structure.

This important book traces the history of genetics and genomics policy in Britain. Detailing the scientific, political, and economic factors that have informed policy and the development of new health services, the book highlights the particular importance of the field of Public Health Genomics. Although focused primarily on events in Britain, the book reveals a number of globally applicable lessons. The authors explain how and why Public Health Genomics developed and the ways in which genetics and genomics have come to have a central place in many important health debates. Consideration of their ethical, social, and legal implications and ensuring that new services that are equitable, appropriate, and well-targeted will be central to effective health planning and policymaking in future. The book features: Interviews with leading individuals who were intimately involved in the development of genetics and genomics policy and Public Health Genomics Insights from experts who participated in a pair of 'witness seminars' Historical analysis exploiting a wide range of primary sources Written in a clear and accessible style, this book will be of interest to those involved in the research and practice of genetics, genomics, bioethics, and population health, but also to NHS staff, policymakers, politicians, and the public. It will also be valuable supplementary reading for students of the History of Medicine and Health, Public Health, and Biomedical Sciences.

Genetic recombination, in the broadest sense, can be defined as any process in which DNA sequences interact and undergo a transfer of information, producing new "recombinant" sequences that contain information from each of the original molecules. All organisms have the ability to carry out recombination, and this striking universality speaks to the essential role recombination plays in a variety of biological processes fundamentally important to the maintenance of life. Such processes include DNA repair, regulation of gene expression, disease etiology, meiotic chromosome segregation, and evolution. One important aspect of recombination is that it typically occurs only between sequences that display a high degree of sequence identity. The stringent requirement for homology helps to ensure that, under normal circumstances, a cell is protected from deleterious rearrangements since a swap of genetic information between two nearly identical sequences is not expected to dramatically alter a genome. Recombination between dissimilar sequences, which does happen on occasion, may have such harmful consequences as chromosomal translocations, deletions, or inversions. For many organisms, it is also important that recombination rates are not too high lest the genome become destabilized. Curiously, certain organisms, such as the trypanosome parasite, actually use a high rate of recombination at a particular locus in order to switch antigen expression continually and evade the host immune system effectively.

This volume is designed to provide a framework for studying the public policy implications of a broad range of biomedical technologies. Each chapter focuses on the policy issues and political activities surrounding a single technology. Contributors address such issues as new reproductive technologies, animal experimentation, contraceptive drugs, genetic markers and technology and the aging society.

Damage to DNA by both exogenous and endogenous sources is increasingly regarded as highly important in the initiation and progression of cancer and in the occurance of other pathological events. DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen-derived species, also called oxidative DNA damage, is most the frequent type encountered by aerobic cells. Mechanistic studies of carcinogenesis indicate an important role of this type of damage to DNA. There is also strong evidence to support the role of oxidative DNA damage in the aging process. DNA damage is opposed in vivo by repair systems. If not repaired, DNA damage may lead to detrimental biological consequences. Therefore, the repair of DNA damage is regarded as one of the essential events in all life forms. In recent years the field of DNA repair has flourished due to new findings on DNA repair mechanisms and the molecular basis of cancer. A detailed knowledge of mechanisms of DNA damage and repair, and how individual repair enzymes function may lead to manipulation of DNA repair in cells and ultimately to an increase of the resistence of human cells to DNA-damaging agents. This volume covers the most recent devlopments in this research field and contains contributions from scientists working in the fields of biochemistry, molecular biology, enzymology, biomedical science, and radiation biology.

Animal cells are the preferred "cell factories" for the production of complex molecules and antibodies for use as prophylactics, therapeutics or diagnostics. Animal cells are required for the correct post-translational processing (including glycosylation) of biopharmaceutical protein products. They are used for the production of viral vectors for gene therapy. Major targets for this therapy include cancer, HIV, arthritis, cardiovascular and CNS diseases and cystic fibrosis. Animal cells are used as in vitro substrates in pharmacological and toxicological studies. This book is designed to serve as a comprehensive review of animal cell culture, covering the current status of both research and applications. For the student or R&D scientist or new researcher the protocols are central to the performance of cell culture work, yet a broad understanding is essential for translation of laboratory findings into the industrial production. Within the broad scope of the book, each topic is reviewed authoritatively by experts in the field to produce state-of-the-art collection of current research. A major reference volume on cell culture research and how it impacts on production of biopharmaceutical proteins worldwide, the book is essential reading for everyone working in cell culture and is a recommended volume for all biotechnology libraries.

Ancient DNA Typing is a comprehensive manual about the analysis of ancient and degraded DNA. It is an equally useful textbook and working tool for various disciplines such as: Anthropology, Archaeology, Forensic Medicine, Conservation Biology, Environmental Sciences and Food Engineering.The reader benefits from a clear division of strategies, methods and applications with many interesting examples of the analysis of historic skeletal and cultural remains. The book contains a detailed protocol chapter which serves as a lab manual with the most important methods for DNA extraction, PCR and electrophoretic analysis of degraded samples. The appendix helps to set up a PCR lab specializing in ancient DNA research and answers the most frequent questions concerning technical problems in investigations of degraded DNA.

Genomics and the Global Bioeconomy, a new volume in the Translational and Applied Genomics series, empowers researchers, administrators, and sustainability leaders to apply genomics and novel omics technologies to advance the global bioeconomy and sustainability. Here, more than 15 international experts illustrate-with concrete examples across various industries and areas of global need-how genomics is addressing some of the most pressing global challenges of our time. Chapters offer an in-depth, case-based treatment of various topics, from genomics technologies supporting sustainability development goals to novel synthetic biology advancements improving biofuel production, conservation, sustainable food production, bioremediation, and genomic monitoring. Editors Catalina Lopez-Correa and Adrian Suarez-Gonzalez skillfully bring clarity to this diverse and increasingly impactful research, uniting various perspectives to inspire fresh innovation in driving the global bioeconomy.

2. IMPORTANCE OF NITROGEN METABOLISM 2. 1. Range of naturally occurring nitrogenous components in forest trees 2. 2. Gene expression and mapping 2. 3. Metabolic changes in organized and unorganized systems 2. 4. Nitrogen and nutrition 2. 5. Aspects of intermediary nitrogen metabolism 3. NITROGEN METABOLISM IN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT 3. 1. Precultural factors 3. 2. Callus formation 3. 3. Cell suspensions 3. 3. 1. Conifers 3. 3. 2. Acer 3. 4. Morphogenesis 3. 4. 1. Nitrogen metabolism of natural embryos 3. 4. 2. Somatic embryogenesis 3. 4. 2. 1. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) 3. 4. 2. 2. Douglar-fir and loblolly pine 3. 4. 3. Organogenesis 4. OUTLOOK 11. CARBOHYDRATE UTILIZATION AND METABOLISM - T. A. Thorpe 325 1. INTRODUCTION 2. NUTRITIONAL ASPECTS 3. CARBOHYDRATE UPTAKE 4. CARBOHYDRATE METABOLISM 4. 1. Sucrose degradation 4. 2. Metabolism of other carbon sources 4. 3. Hexose mobilization and metabolism 4. 3. 1. Cell cycle studies 4. 3. 2. Growth studies 4. 3. 3. Organized development 4. 4. Cell wall biogenesis 4. 4. 1. Primary cell walls 4. 4. 2. Cell wall turnover 4. 4. 3. Secondary cell walls 4. 5. Carbon skeleton utilization 5. OSMOTIC ROLE 6. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS 369 12. THE USE OF IN VITRO TECHNIQUES FOR GENETIC MODIFICATIO~FOREST TREES - E. G. Kirby 1. INTRODUCTION 2. IN VITRO SELECTION 2. 1. Natural variation 2. 2. Induction of variation 2. 3. Selection techniques 2. 4. Plant regeneration 2 . * 5. Applications x 3. SOMATIC HYBRIDIZATION 3. 1.

The study of the prehistory of East Asia is developing very rapidly. In uncovering the story of the flows of human migration that constituted the peopling of East Asia there exists widespread debate about the nature of evidence and the tools for correlating results from different disciplines.

Drawing upon the latest evidence in genetics, linguistics and archaeology, this exciting new book examines the history of the peopling of East Asia, and investigates the ways in which we can detect migration, and its different markers in these fields of inquiry. Results from different academic disciplines are compared and reinterpreted in the light of evidence from others to attempt to try and generate consensus on methodology. Taking a broad geographical focus, the book also draws attention to the roles of minority peoples - hitherto underplayed in accounts of the region's prehistory - such as the Austronesian, Tai-Kadai and Altaic speakers, whose contribution to the regional culture is now becoming accepted.

Past Human Migrations in East Asia presents a full picture of the latest research on the peopling of East Asia, and will be of interest to scholars of all disciplines working on the reconstruction of the peopling of East and North East Asia.

In the field of molecular evolution, inferences about past evolutionary events are made using molecular data from currently living species. With the availability of genomic data from multiple related species, molecular evolution has become one of the most active and fastest growing fields of study in genomics and bioinformatics.

Most studies in molecular evolution rely heavily on statistical procedures based on stochastic process modelling and advanced computational methods including high-dimensional numerical optimization and Markov Chain Monte Carlo. This book provides an overview of the statistical theory and methods used in studies of molecular evolution. It includes an introductory section suitable for readers that are new to the field, a section discussing practical methods for data analysis, and more specialized sections discussing specific models and addressing statistical issues relating to estimation and model choice. The chapters are written by the leaders of field and they will take the reader from basic introductory material to the state-of-the-art statistical methods.

This book is suitable for statisticians seeking to learn more about applications in molecular evolution and molecular evolutionary biologists with an interest in learning more about the theory behind the statistical methods applied in the field. The chapters of the book assume no advanced mathematical skills beyond basic calculus, although familiarity with basic probability theory will help the reader. Most relevant statistical concepts are introduced in the book in the context of their application in molecular evolution, and the book should be accessible for most biology graduate students with an interest in quantitative methods and theory.

Rasmus Nielsen received his Ph.D. form the University of California at Berkeley in 1998 and after a postdoc at Harvard University, he assumed a faculty position in Statistical Genomics at Cornell University. He is currently an Ole Romer Fellow at the University of Copenhagen and holds a Sloan Research Fellowship. His is an associate editor of the Journal of Molecular Evolution and has published more than fifty original papers in peer-reviewed journals on the topic of this book.

From the reviews:

..".Overall this is a very useful book in an area of increasing importance." Journal of the Royal Statistical Society

"I find Statistical Methods in Molecular Evolution very interesting and useful. It delves into problems that were considered very difficult just several years ago...the book is likely to stimulate the interest of statisticians that are unaware of this exciting field of applications. It is my hope that it will also help the 'wet lab' molecular evolutionist to better understand mathematical and statistical methods." Marek Kimmel for the Journal of the American Statistical Association, September 2006

"Who should read this book? We suggest that anyone who deals with molecular data (who does not?) and anyone who asks evolutionary questions (who should not?) ought to consult the relevant chapters in this book." Dan Graur and Dror Berel for Biometrics, September 2006

"Coalescence theory facilitates the merger of population genetics theory with phylogenetic approaches, but still, there are mostly two camps: phylogeneticists and population geneticists. Only a few people are moving freely between them. Rasmus Nielsen is certainly one of these researchers, and his work so far has merged many population genetic and phylogenetic aspects of biological research under the umbrella of molecular evolution. Although Nielsen did not contribute a chapter to his book, his work permeates all its chapters. This book gives an overview of his interests and current achievements in molecular evolution. In short, this book should be on your bookshelf." Peter Beerli for Evolution, 60(2), 2006"

General inspection of a role performed in the cell by RNAs allows us to distinguish three major groups of transcripts: I. protein-coding mRNAs, II. non-coding housekeeping and III. regulatory RNAs.

The housekeeping RNAs include RNA classes that are generally, constitutively expressed and whose presence is required for normal function and viability of the cells. On the other hand, a group of regulatory RNAs includes RNA species that are expressed at certain stages of organism development or cell differentiation or as a response to external stimuli and can affect expression of other genes on the levels of transcription or translation.

Non-coding RNA transcripts form a heterogeneous class of RNAs that can not be characterized by a single specific function. Initially, the term non-coding RNA (ncRNA) was used primarily to describe polyadenylated and a capped eukaryotic RNAs transcribed by RNA polymerase II, but lacking long open reading frames. Now, this definition can be extended to cover all RNA transcripts that do not show protein-coding capacity and is sometimes used to describe any RNA that does not encode protein, including introns.

This book is an in-depth look at the function of Non-Coding RNAs and their relationship to Molecular Biology and Molecular Biology.

Bioinformatics of Genome Regulation and Structure covers:

-regulatory genomic sequences: databases, knowledge bases, computer analysis, modeling, and recognition;
-large-scale genome analysis and functional annotation;
-gene structure detection and prediction;
-comparative and evolutionary genomics;
-computer analysis of genome polymorphism and evolution; computer analysis and modeling of transcription, splicing, and translation; structural computational biology: structure-function organization of genomic DNA, RNA, and proteins;
-gene networks, signal transduction pathways, and genetically controlled metabolic pathways: principles of organization, operation, and evolution;
-data warehousing, knowledge discovery and data mining; and,
-analysis of basic patterns of genome operation, organization, and evolution. The data presented may be used while solving a wide range of problems, both basic and applied, in various directions of molecular biology, molecular genetics, biotechnology, pharmacogenetics, pharmacology, and adjacent fields of medicine, veterinary, and agrobiology.

This book examines the increasing significance of DNA profiling for crime investigation in modern society. It focuses on developments in the UK as the world-leader in the development and application of forensic DNA technology, and in the construction of DNA databases as an essential element in the successful use of DNA for forensic purposes. The book uses data collected from funded research into police uses of the UK National DNA Database (NDNAD) to describe the relationship between scientific knowledge and police investigations. It refers to some of the major UK criminal cases in which DNA evidence has been presented and contested. Chapters in the book explain the scientific developments which have enabled DNA profiling to be applied to criminal investigation, the ways in which the state has directed this, and how genetic technology has risen to such preeminence; how DNA evidence moved from its use in individual prosecutions to a major role in intelligence led policing, and saw the de

The determination of protein function has been a major goal of molecular biology since the founding of the discipline. However, as we learn more about gene function, we discover that the context within which a gene is expressed controls the specific function of that gene. It has become critical to establish the background in which gene function is determined and to perform experiments in multiple applicable backgrounds.In "Gene Function Analysis, Second Edition," a number of computational and experimental techniques are presented for identifying not only the function of an individual gene, but also the partners that work with that gene. The theme of data integration runs strongly through the computational techniques, with many focusing on gathering data from different sources and different biomolecular types. Experimental techniques have evolved to determine function in specific tissues and at specific times during development. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and easily accessible, "Gene Function Analysis, Second Edition" seeks to serve both professionals and novices with a growing understanding of the complexity of gene function."

Why do modern agricultural techniques, which are environmentally damaging, continue to be used? This book seeks the answer to that question, by looking at the evolution of agricultural research in its cultural context. The theoretical framework is supported by historical case studies concerning hybrid maize in the United States, and the Green Revolution in Mexico. A chapter is also devoted to biotechnology, and its implications for the disturbing trend towards genetic uniformity.

Protocols for Nucleic Acid Analysis by Non-radioactive Probes, Second Edition provides a firm background on the basic preparative protocols required for the analysis of nucleic acids by nonradioactive methods. Presenting the methodologies using amazing new applications, this volume offers guide chapters on nucleic acid extractions, preparation of nucleic acid blots, and labeling of nucleic acids with nonradioactive haptens. New fluorescent techniques such as Real Time PCR and microarrays are also included, allowing users to get a nonradioactive protocol implemented in the laboratory with minimum adaptation required and fastest time to results.
The protocols follow the successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, each offering step-by-step laboratory instructions, an introduction outlining the principles behind the technique, lists of the necessary equipment and reagents, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.